Two National Police Reservists (NPRs) and a ranger were on Tuesday evening attacked by armed bandits at Sossian area in Laikipia North.
The three, Simon Mwangi, William Lodopwa and John Ekamiti, a ranger, were attacked and seriously wounded by armed bandits while patrolling Sossian ranch.
The three are admitted at Unison hospital in Rumuruti town with serious gunshot wounds.
The number brings to nine NPRs who have been shot by armed bandits in the last one week in the area.
According to Mr Mwangi, one of the reservists, they were riding on a motorcycle when a gang of armed men ambushed them and started shooting at them.
He said that the attackers were on foot and were hiding on both sides of the road at Tinga Mara area.
Mr Mwangi, decried that the government was yet to remunerate them since they were rearm despite risking their lives to protect others.
His Mother, Mary Nduta decried that despite an ongoing security operation that is being conducted in the region by government security forces, bandit attacks have continued.
Mr Simon Eturen, who is in charge of the police reservists in Laikipia West said that there was a sudden change of things and tactics from the bandits who are now targeting NPRs.
He petitioned the government to redeploy more NPRs and called for a major disarmament exercise in the region.
Leaders from the region led by Sossian Ward MCA, Jacob Edung and Amani Sasa Foundation patron Maina Njenga lamented that despite the heavy presence of security forces in the area bandits were still roaming around with illegal guns.
They said that it was not clear to them how the government keeps on saying that there was an ongoing operation in the region yet bandits come from their hideouts and attack residents and drive away their stolen livestock.
Mr Edung said that the government has deployed dozens of security officers but nothing is happening on the ground.
He regretted that NPRs were now bearing the brunt as bandits had changed their tactics.
The MCA decried low inconsistent pay of youth who were under the programme.
Mr Njenga on his side said that the government should do less talking and more actions saying that residents were tired of empty promises from the government.
Mr Njenga said a review of the County Policing Authority, as a way of strengthening the partnership between the two levels of government, was key to ensure the NPR are well remunerated and security improved.
He said that the government should consider paying medical insurance for the NPRs to ensure that they are well catered for especially during such incidents.
The National Police Service in its social media pages on Wednesday said that the three on normal patrol within the ranch were ambushed by an unknown number of illegal grazers armed with AK 47 rifles.
According to a police report a combined team of police officers and General Service Unit visited the scene at Tinga Mara where two suspects were arrested and two live ammos of 7.62mm special were recovered.
The two suspects were escorted to Rumuruti Police Station waiting to be arraigned in court.
On Friday, two police reservists were attacked and fatally shot by armed bandits at the troubled Ol Moran area in Laikipia County.
The reservists who were among those deployed by the government to guard various learning institutions were guarding Tumaini Primary School that is located about two kilometers from Ol Moran township when they were ambushed and attacked by suspected armed bandits on Friday afternoon.
One of the reservists succumbed to the gunshot wounds he sustained during the incident a day later.